Why did Jesus tell Paul to leave Jerusalem?
The ascended Lord Jesus directed Paul to leave Jerusalem quickly because the Jewish people there would not receive his testimony concerning Him. While Paul prayed in the temple, he saw Jesus, who commanded him to make haste and depart, explaining that they would reject his witness about the Lord.
Les explains that Paul was under Roman protective custody, standing on the stairway to address a great Jewish crowd. He was rehearsing his salvation experience on the road to Damascus, and then recounted that when he returned to Jerusalem and prayed in the temple, he fell into a trance. In that trance, the ascended Lord Jesus told him, "Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem," because the Jews would not receive his testimony concerning Him. Paul protested, reminding the Lord that he had imprisoned and beaten believers in every synagogue and had consented to Stephen's death, holding the raiment of those who slew him. Yet the reason for leaving remained that they would reject his testimony.
And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.